Nature Corner: BatsBats are amazing flying creatures that eat lots of bugs. They are active at night. Bats make sounds and listen to how the sounds echo back to them to figure out where they are and what's around them. Because bats are such good listeners, they are able to catch lots of bugs. This reminds me of Psalm 81:13, which says, "Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways!" God really wants us to be good listeners, too. He wants us to listen to His commandments and obey them. Our Bible story today is about a little boy who listened carefully to God.

Bat photo, #1392533, by Adam Brokes, courtesy of FreeImages.com

Memory Mastery: God's Special BookWe are now memorizing important facts about God's special book, the Bible. You can listen right here to learn more about the Bible. Children who are able to answer questions about God's Special Book will receive a sample of sheep's wool to add to their Bible artifact collection. We are also learning the first verse and refrain to the hymn, Standing on the Promises.

Mission Mail: Something to Hope ForDear Patterson Kids,My name is Coca, and I am 7 years old. I live in Romania.My mother was very sad because we didn't have the money to stay at our apartment. One day, she saw a poster that said, "Hope for the Next Generation." She needed hope, so she decided to take us all to some special meetings. At one meeting, the speaker asked for people to come forward if they wanted special prayer. I begged mother to go up and get special prayer, so mother agreed. The next day, God answered our prayers through a letter in the mail that said we could stay in our apartment. What special request do you need prayer for?Sincerely,Coca

It was now time for God to call Israel's last judge to serve His people. As God looked around over Israel, He was sad. Priest Eli's sons were leading God's people astray with their careless service for God. In the little boy Samuel, God saw a leader who would serve Him and be an example to everyone. It was time for little Samuel to learn God's voice.

Courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org

One night as the boy Samuel lay sleeping, God called to him - "Samuel, Samuel." Samuel sat up and hurried to Priest Eli. "Here I am. Did you call me?" Samuel asked. "No, I didn't call you. Go back to bed," said sleepy Priest Eli. Samuel went back to bed.

Again, Samuel heard a voice, "Samuel, Samuel." Samuel sat up and hurried to Priest Eli. "Here I am. Did you call me?" Samuel asked. "No, I didn't call you. Go back to bed," said Priest Eli. Samuel went back to bed.

Courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org

Again, the voice called out, "Samuel, Samuel." Samuel sat up and hurried to Priest Eli. "Here I am. Did you call me?" Samuel asked. Priest Eli sat up this time and grabbed Samuel's shoulder. "The Lord must be calling you. The next time He calls, just say, 'Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.'" Samuel went back to bed, but it was hard to sleep. Could God really be speaking to me? he thought.

Courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org

​Sure enough, the Lord called out, "Samuel, Samuel." Samuel sat up and replied, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." And God gave Samuel a special message to tell Priest Eli about his naughty sons.

Courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org

Samuel was scared to tell Priest Eli, but when Priest Eli insisted, "Tell me what God said to you." Samuel told him the message. "It is the Lord," Priest Eli said.

From then on, Samuel recognized God's voice. He listened when God called him. He obeyed everything God told him to do. He was a prophet and the last judge to govern Israel.

Our prayer verse is Jeremiah 1:7, which says, "But the Lord said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am only a boy.’ You must go everywhere that I send you. You must say everything I tell you to say." God is still looking for little leaders, like Samuel, to be good examples for His people and to show the world how much He loves them. Will you answer God when He calls?

Dear Father God, Help me speak up for You, like Samuel, and share Jesus' love with others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.